After first opening to a niche audience in 1994, Sligo Yoga Centre has a large student base from all walks of life
DID you know Sligo is home to the north west’s first ever yoga studio?
Sligo Yoga Centre was founded on Castle Street in 1994 by Helen Gillan as the country’s first fully-equipped Iyengar yoga studio.
Yoga was very much a minority interest in the grander scheme of things 28 years ago, but Helen’s leap of faith proved to be a worthwhile venture with a legacy that now spans four decades.
It has grown and developed over the years to cater for the steady growth in the numbers of people seeking natural approaches to healthier living.
Five years ago the centre found itself under new guidance as former student Tara McEvoy took over the running of the centre from Helen.
“I was a student for many years but I knew I wanted to be a yoga teacher at some stage as well,” Tara said.
“I had been through the process of training to become a teacher and after a good chat with Helen in 2017 I took over the running of Sligo Yoga Centre.” Iyengar yoga was created by Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar, an Indian teacher and author. This form of yoga is popular as it has a broad appeal for students due to its versatility in catering to both beginners and experienced students.
“We have a huge student base which has been very loyal but we are always looking to attract new people.
“The principle of Iyengar yoga is one man’s interpretation in which all props are used during yoga and it is a very adaptable form of yoga which makes it very accessible to everyone of all ability levels.” Tara had just taken her own leap of faith to go full-time shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in Ireland.
Yoga was one of the early ways in which people sought to occupy themselves through online classes. Sligo Yoga Centre was no different but Tara could not wait to return to the centre where her enthusiasm for yoga was renewed once again after such a long period away.
“Going online wasn’t something I ever imagined. I had just gone full-time as a yoga teacher shortly before the pandemic so it was a big change to adapt to. I went online with our existing students as a means of keeping in touch and many of them also supported the centre by using the online shop.”
“Things are more or less back to normal again. It was strange because it felt like we were all back doing yoga for the first time again. Online was important during lockdown but it could never fully replace what you get out of a real class where everyone is together in the same room.
“I think lockdown had also deflated my enthusiasm for a while. I had to wind myself up to look forward to it again and once I got the all clear to open the centre again it really restored that enthusiasm again.”
Yoga was a niche activity in 1994. In 2022 this wasn’t the case anymore as yoga now boasts students from all walks of life who are more aware of the physical and mental benefits of it.
“Yoga isn’t a niche activity anymore. People are more aware of its benefits that apply to everyone. I think especially after lockdown we found a lot of new people coming to us who needed to clear their heads. They needed just that hour of meditation.”
Sligo Yoga Centre has already created a long legacy for itself, but Tara still has one eye on the future with plans to bring yoga to an even wider audience in the months ahead.
“All ages are welcome and we are adapting all the time to welcome more people. We have plans to introduce chair yoga for people with limited mobility and yoga classes for teenagers and children. The Sligo Yoga Centre has been around for a long time but there is always to continue reinventing.”
If you are interested in signing up for classes at the Sligo Yoga Centre, please call 086 1649609. An online portal for registering on www.sligoyogacentre.ie is also due to open soon.